repair a tear in painting

[Cat0075]

Friend I paint with just finished a painting of her father, had it on a easel, it some how flipped off during the holiday, and a small tear less then 1/4 inch happened ... Its on the shirt part thankfully.
Does anyone have experience with repairing the damage?
Was told to use another piece of canvas on back and adhere it with gel meduim , let dry, then can smooth the front with filler and repaint..
Would appericate any help with this.. thanks Cat

[1100ww]

Sounds like good advice to me. I wonder if maybe you should use a thinner cloth than canvas on the back for a patch? Just thinking that maybe gluing a heavy patch on may leave an imprint/outline over time...probably a more lightweight cloth would work just as well, without being intrusive. I'm no expert, though.

[CareyG]

You can fix it that way and there are several other methods available (I've heard of using beeswax, for instance). But you do have to be aware that without experience, etc, it's likely going to *look* like it was fixed. And it's also possible that whatever is used will "vibrate" to the front of the painting (if not now, eventually).

If it's to be a gift or an important heirloom piece, it might be best to paint it again...

But if the alternative is just trashing it or whatever...then I would say that there's no harm in trying it! But I would do a lot more indepth study first...search around for more information both here and on the internet at large.

Maybe someone else can share some experience or something for you...

~!Carey

[Eduardo Flores]

...to use another piece of canvas on back and adhere it with gel medium , let dry...
Yes, letting dry with a weight on the damaged area.
If the canvas is also slightly deformed, let me know.

Eduardo

[Cat0075]

Thank you for all the help.. Eduardo .....the front has a slight bubble,pucker look to it, about the size of 2 pencil erasers. Its not a gift but she really did a fantastic job. Sure there is a way to save it so she doesn't have to repaint her words... Thanks for all the help...Will print this all off for her Monday Night to take to her she can decide what she wants to do.. If it was mine would try to repair if it turned out bad would be a learning experience. Cat

[1100ww]

If a painting gets a dent/indention in it (like the "bubble" shape you mentioned), you can get rid of it by misting some hot water on the back.

I had a painting that fell, and it got a horrible indention in it. I thought it was ruined. I grabbed a spray bottle and misted hot water on the back. Later, when I looked at it, it had gone completely back to normal.

I imagine the paint should be dry, though. Seems to me you should straighten out any deformity (dent, bubble) before repairing the hole--otherwise you might permanently "seal" the deformity...

[Eduardo Flores]

If a painting gets a dent/indention in it (like the "bubble" shape you mentioned), you can get rid of it by misting some hot water on the back.

I had a painting that fell, and it got a horrible indention in it. I thought it was ruined. I grabbed a spray bottle and misted hot water on the back. Later, when I looked at it, it had gone completely back to normal.

I imagine the paint should be dry, though. Seems to me you should straighten out any deformity (dent, bubble) before repairing the hole--otherwise you might permanently "seal" the deformity...
This is what I would have said!

Eduardo